Carrier bags



H. F- GATWARD CARRIER BAGS May 27, 1958 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1956 May 27, 1958 H. F. GATWARD 2,836,344

CARRIER BAGS Filed Feb. 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /imgyf 614mm I I I May 27, 1958 H. F. GATWARD CARRIER BAGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 16, 1956 INVEN TOR /I; FGA ru/A United States Patent @fidce 2,836,344 Patented May .27, 1958 Claims priority, application Great Britain September 21, 1955 Claims. (Ci. 229-54) This invention relates to carrier bags of the kind which are composed of paper and which are stiffened along each edge adjacent the mouth usually by means of a cardboard or like stifiening member, the s tifi'ened edges being in the form of flaps which can be folded inwardly in opposite directions so that the carrier bag assumes virtually the form of a box.

The chief object of the invention is to evolve an improved form of carrier bag of the b X-type incorporating a simple form of fastening means for maintaining the bag in a closed condition.

A box-type carrier bag in accordance with the present invention is provided along its upper edge with two cardboard or other stiffening flaps which are capable of inward hinging movement in opposite directions so that they occupy a superimposed position, the lower flap carrying one or more string or other type handles adapted to be passed through a slot or slots in the upper flap so as to thereby secure the flaps in superimposed relationship and the bag in its closed condition.

The two flaps project upwardly from the mouth of the bag on its opposite sides, in which case the bag may be provided With subsidiary flaps at the ends of the mouth, which subsidiary flaps are turned inwardly beneath the main flaps to provide a complete closure. t is preferred, however, that the two subsidiary flaps and the main flaps shall be so joined together that they form an upward extension of the bags mouth, the upward extension being foldabl along suitably positioned crease lines so as to completely close the mouth of the bag.

According to a further feature of the invention, each slot in the upper flap includes a central comparatively wide part through which the handle can be easily passed, the slot converging along its edges towards its ends, the edges of the material adjacent the narrower parts of the slot frictionally gripping the handle and preventing any tendency for the upper flap to r'de up the handle into an open position, the weight of the bag andlits contents when carried tending to force the string or like handle into the narrower end parts of the slot.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means associated with such a carrier bag which will enable a garment or the like to be supported therein, the carrier bag with this object in view having associated with it a garment hanger which may be detach able or alternatively may form integral part of the bag.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view showing how the carrier bag can be folded to occupy a small space;

Fi ure 2 ilustrates the carrier bag open;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate how the flaps are folded over to close the mouth of the bag;

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the bag in its closed condition;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view looking in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2;

"Figure 8 is a section on the line '8--8 in Figure 6;

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of a carrier bag incorporating an integral garment hanger;

Figure 11 illustrates the garment hanger in use; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating how a garment hanger of special form can be mounted in the bag.

As will be seen clearly from the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of box-like carrier bag in accordance with the invention, the bag is capable of being folded into a fiat condition as is shown clearly in Figure l, thebag when extended readyto receive the articles to be carried having the ,fonnshown in'Figure 2.

main flaps,'being of rectangular form and extending across the full Width of the bags mouth. Stifiener 3, on the other hand, has its upper corners cut off at 45 as at 4 to facilitate folding.

Flap 2 carries one or more string or like handles 5 (two being shown although one handle may be sufiicient in thecase of a comparatively narrow bag). 'Handles 5 are integrally formed as a closed string or cord loop, and are passed through holes 6 in flap 2 sothat'they project upwardly therefrom in spaced relationship.

Flap 3 is formed with .two spaced slots 7 which are comparatively wide at the'centre to permit easy entry of the handles, each slot tapering towards its ends,-which latter terminates in holes 8. The purpose of this-particular form of slot will be described later.

Assuming that the articles have been placed in the bag, flap 2 is first folded inwardly into the position shown in Figure 3.

handles passed through slots 7, inwardly and downwardly into the position shown in Figure 5. Tension is then applied to the handles to cause them to register with holes 8, the holes 8 being of a diameter such that the material bordering the holes ing assisted by the their ends.

it Will be appreciated that in this position the bag will'be completely closed and the contents fully protected. To facilitate folding the bag, it is formed with suitably positioned crease lines.

The bag may, as is shown clearly in Figures 9, l0, and 11, be provided with an intergral garment hanger, the latter in its simplest. form, consisting of a strip 10 of cardboard or other comparatively stilt material stapled or otherwise secured to the underside of flap 2, strip 10 being capable of folding along line 11 into a position in which it depends downwardly from flap 2 at right angles.

The strip 10 is cut as at 12 to form a longitudinally arranged slot through which a garment or the like can be passed, so that it hangs therefrom in a neat condition. The cut 12 may be continuous so that the material forming the centre of the depending part of the strip will remove to form the slot or it may be non-continuous as shown, thereby providing'a flap 13 which can be bent downwardly to form asrshownvin Figure 11 a comparatively stiff bar on which the garment G or the like is As a further alternative, as is shown clearly in Figure 12, a wire garment hanger 24 of special construction may be provided, the latter being fitted with an arm 15, the limbs of which are passed through the loops of the handles so thatthe hanger'will ,be supported withinthe carrier bag. Such an arrangement has the advantage, that a garment can be first placed on the hanger and the hanger plus garment then inserted in the bag. Thehanger may be formed with identical inone'operation, the unwantedparts ofthe slots in the as shown in sides of the bag, thereto 'being' foldable' inwardly into superimposed relation'tra'nsversely of saidbag to retain the bag in open' a the bag;

corners spaced from V of said sheet; said sheets and bag portlons secured thereto 7: into superimposition and adapted to be together with the garment can 7 afterwards he removed 7 from the bag and suspended in a' wardrobe by the hook 16. I

r V t ing beveled corners adjacent the top edges of the bag with the bevels extending For convenience in manufacture, both flaps 2 and 3 slots which may be formed covered by a piece oftpaper or the like 14 Figure 3. Alternatively, the flap 2 may be formed merely with four suitably spaced holes through which the string formingthe handles is threaded.

lclaim: V j J 7' 1. A collapsible carrier or'container comprising an open top bag formed of relatively thin flexiblesheet ma terial and of rectangular transverse section when open for use and foldable flat for storage, a pair of relatively 7 stiff sheets securedacross the opposed wider sides of said bag at the tops thereof, said sheets having atlength substantiallyeq'ual to thewidth of saidwiderbag sides and a width substantially equal tothe width of the narrower said sheets and bag portionsiseeured rectangular condition, one of said sheets and bag portions secured thereto being the upper of said sheets when in superimposed relation and having a slot extending longitudinally of said'sheeL'and a flexible handle having its ends anchored to the other offsaiid' sheets substantially in registration with the ends of said slot when said sheets are folded into superimposition and adapted to be' inserted through said slot-to retain' said sheets and bag portions in 'folded superimposed relation closing the bag in' a watertight manner and evenly 2; A collapsible: carrier or container comprisinglan open top bag formed of relatively thin flexible sheet material and of rectangular transverse section when open from the corners spaced from said top bag edges to the top edge of said sheet, said sheetsjand bag portions secured thereto being foldable inwardly into superimposed relationtransversely oftsaid bag to retain the bag in open rectangular condition with the beveled sheet overlying the rectangular sheet and the side portions and free corners of the bag adjacent the beveled sheet foldedinwardly under; the beveled sheet,

said beveled sheet and bag portion secured'thereto having a slot extending longitudinally of said sheet, and a string handle having its respective ends anchored to said rectangular sheet substantially in registration with the ends of said slot when said sheets are folded'into superimposisupporting all sides of r to the width of the narrower for use with substantially even top edgesand inward folds longitudinally of the narrower sides to enable folding across the opposed wider sides'of said 'bag at'the tops thereof, said sheets having a length substantially to the width of said wider bag sides and a width substantially equal {to tone of said sheets responding to the 'transverse section 10f said bag, the

the width of said narrower bag sides, being rectangular and substantially corother of said sheets having beveled corners adjacent; the,

' condi ion with the beveled sheet overlying the rectangular sheet and the side portions and free corners of adjacent the beveled sheet folded inwardly thereto having' a slot extending longitudinally of said 7 sheen-and a flexible handle having its respective ends an- ,fiat for storage, a pair of relatively stiff sheets secured V tion and adapted to be inserted I through said slot to retain said sheets in folded superimposed relation closing the bag in a watertight manner and evenly supporting all sides of the bag, said slot terminating in holes substansection of said handle with.

tially corresponding to'the narrow portions adjacent said latter holes to snugly surronnd said handle; and wide portions intermediate said narrow portions to facilitate. insertion through said slot. I

of said handle 4. A collapsible carrier or container comprising an open top paper bag of rectangular transverse section when open for use with substantially even top edges and inward foldsilongitudinally of the narrower sides to en-' able folding fiat for cardboard sheets secured across the inner surfaces of thestorage, a pair said bag at the tops'thereof, said sheets having a length substantially equal tothe'width of said widerbag sides and a width substantially equal opposed wider sides of said sheets being rectangular and substantially corresponding to the transverse section of said bag, the other of said sheets having beveled corners adjacent the top edges of the bag with the bevels extending from the corners spaced from said topbag edges to the top edge of said sheet,'said sheets andbag portions secured. thereto being foldable inwardly into superimposed relation transversely of said bag to retain the bag in open rectangular: condition with the beveled sheet overlying the rectangular sheet and the side portions and under the longitudinally of said sheet, said rectangular sheet lhav-V the bag under the bev- V t 'eled sheet, said beveled sheet and ,bag portion secured chored to said rectangular sheet substantially in'registration with the ends of said slot when said sheets are folded inserted through heets and bagpo'rtionst'in folded said slot to'retainsaid closing the' bag ,in' a watertight superimposed relation manner and evenlysupporting all sides of the bag;

r 3. Aic ollapsible carrierror container comprising an open top paper bag ofjrectangular itransversesection for use with'substantially even top edges and bag at the; tops thereof, said sheets wider sides of said having a lengthlsubstantially equal'to' the width of said mg holes substantially registering with the ends'of said slots when said sheets are folded into superimposition, and a pair "of flexible string handles having their respective'ends threaded'through said holes an tothe inner side of said rectangular sheet and adapted to be inserted through said slots to retain said sheets in foided superimposed relation closing tight manner and evenly supporting all sides of the bag, said slots terminating in holes substantially correspondingrto the section of portions adjacent said latter holes to' snugly surround said handles with'wide portions intermediate said narrow portions to facilitate insertion ofsaid handles through said slots.- a a lr j 7 Y5'. A'collapsible carrier or containercomprisingfan open top paper bag of rectangular transverse section with substantially even top, edges and inward folds longittudinally of the narrowersides,,a pair of relatively stiff cardboard sheets secured across the inner surfaces of the opposed wider sides of 'saidibag at the tops of said wider bag sidesfand a width substantially equal to the width of the narrower sides; of the bag,one of said sheets being rectangular and substantially corresponding of relatively stiff V sides'of the ;bag, one of a free corners of thebag d anchored;

the bag in a watersaid handles with'narrow- V thereof, ,said sheets having a length substantially equal to thejvidth] V bag, the other of said l t foldable inwardly into superimposed relation transversely of said bag with the beveled sheet overlying the rectangular sheet and the side portions and free corners of inforcing said rectangular sheet, said third sheet being bent longitudinally into an angle formation with one flange secured to the inner side of said rectangular sheet and the other flange having a longitudinal slot turned at the bag adjacent the beveled sheet folded inwardly under 5 the ends toward the free edge of said flange with a fold the beveled sheet, said beveled sheet and bag portion secured thereto having a pair of spaced parallel slots extending longitudinally of said sh sheet having holes substantially re of said slots when said sheets imposition, and a pair of fiexibl their respective ends threaded anchored to the inner side of s adapted to be inserted through sheets in folded superimposed bag, said slots terminating in sponding to the section of said eet, said rectangular gistering with the ends are folded into super- 10 e string handles having through said holes and aid rectangular sheet and I 048 818 said slots to retain said 1 relation and Closing the 1 holes substantially corre- 2,352,102

line extending between the ends of said slot and defining a flap -foldable from said flange to provide a wide slot and an angle bar forming a hanger bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hamilton Oct. 21, 1884 Falk Dec. 31, 1912 Stone July 31, 1934 Cantor Apr. 2, 1940 Johnston June 20, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1912 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1936 

